From childhood to old age, we all use language as a means of broadening our knowledge of ourselves and the world about us.When humans first 1 , they were like newborn children, unable to use this 2 tool.Yet once language developed, the possibilities for human kind?s future 3 and cultural growth increased.

　　Many linguists believe that evolution is 4 for our ability to produce and use language.They 5 that our highly evolved brain provides us 6 an innate language ability not found in lower 7 . Proponents of this innateness theory say that our 8 for language is inborn, but that language itself develops gradually, 9 a function of the growth of the brain during childhood.Therefore there are critical 10 times for language development.

Current 11 of innateness theory are mixed, however, evidence supporting the existence of some innate abilities is undeniable. 12 , more and more schools are discovering that foreign languages are best taught in 13 grades.Young children often can learn several languages by being 14 to them, while adults have a much harder time learning another language once the 15 of their first language have become firmly fixed.

16 some aspects of language are undeniably innate, language does not develop automatically in a vacuum.Children who have been 17 from other human beings do not possess language.This demonstrates that 18 with other human beings isnecessary for proper language development.Some linguists believe that this is even more basic to human language 19 than any innate capacities.These theorists view language as imitative, learned behavior. 20 , children learn language from their parents by imitating them.Parents gradually shape their child's language skills by positively reinforcing precise imitations and negatively reinforcing imprecise ones.

1.A.generated B.evolved C.born D.originated

2.A.valuable B.appropriate C.convenient D.favorite

3.A.attainments B.feasibilityC.entertainments D.evolution

4.A.essential B.available C.reliable D.responsible

5.A.confirm B.inform C.claim D.convince

6.A.for B.from C.of D.with

7.A.organizations B.organisms C.humans D.children

8.A.potential B.performance C.preference D.passion

9.A.as B.just as C.like D.unlike

10.A.ideological B.biological C.social D.psychological

11.A.reviews B.reference C.reaction D.recommendation

12.A.In a word B.In a sense C.Indeed D.In other words

13.A.various B.different C.the higher D.the lower

14.A.revealed B.exposed C.engaged D.involved

15.A.regulations B.formations C.rules D.constitutions

16.A.Although B.Whether C.Since D.When

17.A.distinguished B.different C.protected D.isolated

18.A.exposition B.comparison C.contrast  D.interaction

19.A.acquisition B.appreciation C.requirement D.alternative

20.A.As a result B.After all C.In other words D.Above all

Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been when he heard many fish hitting against his roof!

　　 What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.

　　When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners, collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.

　　Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur quite frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.

　　56. What is this passage about?

　　A. A sad story. 　　　　　　　　　　　　B. A rain of fish.

　　C. Australia’s northern part.　　　　　D. The damage done by floods.

　　57. Fish-falls occur in Australia_________ .

　　A. quite often 　　　　　　B. on large farms

　　C. only in winter　　　　　D. when the air is calm

　　58. It is a known fact that ________.

　　A. one should watch where one steps

　　B. Bill Tapp is a scientist who studies farming

　　C. the natural world can never create waterfalls that fall upward

　　D. the seasons in the southern part are different from those in the northern part

 　59. The word “infinite” is closest in meaning to _________.

　　A. easy 　　　B. difficult 　　　C. countless 　　　D. dangerous

Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been when he heard many fish hitting against his roof!

　　 What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.

　　When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners, collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.

　　Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur quite frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.

　　56. What is this passage about?

　　A. A sad story. 　　　　　　　　　　　　B. A rain of fish.

　　C. Australia’s northern part.　　　　　D. The damage done by floods.

　　57. Fish-falls occur in Australia_________ .

　　A. quite often 　　　　　　B. on large farms

　　C. only in winter　　　　　D. when the air is calm

　　58. It is a known fact that ________.

　　A. one should watch where one steps

　　B. Bill Tapp is a scientist who studies farming

　　C. the natural world can never create waterfalls that fall upward

　　D. the seasons in the southern part are different from those in the northern part

　　59. The word “infinite” is closest in meaning to _________.

　　A. easy 　　　B. difficult 　　　C. countless 　　　D. dangerous

From childhood to old age, we all use language as a means of broadening our knowledge of ourselves and the world about us. When humans first 1 , they were like newborn children, unable to use this 2 tool. Yet once language developed, the possibilities for human kind‘s future 3 and cultural growth increased.